Global Maternal Mortality: Recent Statistics
The global maternal mortality ratio has reached its lowest level in recorded history, though progress has stagnated in the last decade, with approximately 250.4 million pregnancies annually resulting in unacceptably high mortality rates. 1
Current Global Statistics
The global maternal mortality rate stands at approximately 216 per 100,000 live births when considering worldwide estimates, though this varies dramatically by region and development status. 1
Approximately 358,000 maternal deaths occur annually worldwide based on estimates through 2008, representing a 34% decline from the 546,000 deaths in 1990. 2
More recent surveillance indicates that over 800 maternal deaths occur each day globally, despite a 38% decrease in maternal mortality during the last decade. 3
The annual number of maternal deaths has declined by 34% between 1990 and 2008, with the maternal mortality ratio falling from 400 to 260 deaths per 100,000 live births globally during this period. 2
Regional Disparities
99% of preventable maternal deaths occur in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and low-income nations. 3, 4
The majority of the global burden of maternal deaths has shifted from Asia to Sub-Saharan Africa between 1990 and 2008, driven by differential trends in fertility, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and access to reproductive health services. 2
In developed countries, maternal mortality rates are substantially lower: 9.2 per 100,000 live births in the UK and 17.4 per 100,000 live births in the United States (2018 data). 1
Leading Causes of Death
Pregnancy-specific complications account for most maternal deaths globally, with the following being the primary direct causes: 1
- Hemorrhage (postpartum hemorrhage being the most common)
- Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (including eclampsia)
- Maternal sepsis
- Complications of abortion
- Thromboembolism
In the United States specifically, cardiovascular conditions, non-cardiovascular medical conditions, and infection are the leading causes of pregnancy-related death from 2007-2016. 1
Preventability
Two-thirds of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable according to data from 14 state Maternal Mortality Review Committees, with both patient-level and health system factors contributing to these deaths. 1
Progress Toward Global Goals
The annual rate of decline in global maternal mortality ratio (2.3% between 1990-2008) falls short of the level needed to meet the UN Millennium Development Goal 5 target of a 75% reduction by 2015. 2
Progress to reduce maternal and perinatal deaths has stagnated in the last decade, with mortality and life-threatening complications remaining unacceptably high despite the global maternal mortality ratio reaching its lowest recorded level. 1
Postpartum Mortality Timing
More than half of all pregnancy-related deaths occur after birth, with nearly 12% of deaths occurring 43 to 365 days postpartum (2011-2015 data), highlighting the critical need for extended postpartum surveillance and care. 1